Spoke-clamp.



J. BLAGKFORD.

SPOKE CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, 1912.

Patented July 30, 1 912.-

JAMES BLACKFORD, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

' SPOKE-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. July so, 1912.

Application filed April 6, 1912. Serial No. 689,039.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J Aims BLACKFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salt Lake City, in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spoke- Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to spoke clamps, and has for its object to provide a clamp whereby the free end of the spokes of a vehicle maybe drawn nearer to each other and held in position, in order that they may enter the holes provided in the felly of thewheel. These objects I accomplish with the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings in t-ion through the device.

which similar letters of reference, indicate 7 like parts throughout the several figuresand as described in the specifications forming apart of this application.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the hub and spokes of an automobile wheel, with one half of the felly in place thereon, and the other half of the felly in position to be driven on the spokes with my device in place thereon. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sec- Fig. 3 is a plan view of the .device looking in a direct-ion away from the hub of the wheel. Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the clamp or lug which engages the spokes. Fig. 5 is a view in'perspective of the clamping jaw. f

In manufacturing and repairing vehicle wheels having wooden spokes, the rims or fellies used thereon are more often made of wood, and have holes or mortises therein through which a tenon on thefree end of the spokeis to be inserted.

As will be obvious the arc of the circle between any two spokes at the end of the tenon D, is longer than the are at. their base, and in order that the are on the inner face of the felly between any two mortises C within which the said tenons D are to be inserted may be such that the spokes will enter the-said mortises C, the free ends of the spokes must be drawn and held in position to registerwithsaid mortises C, while the felly may be driven into place.

I have provided a clamp whereby the free end of the spokes on which the .tenon has been turned, may be drawn and held in position to enter the mortise C in the felly B, enabling the one workman to place the felly on the spokes without assistance.

My device consists of plates 1 having open of the said spoke lug 2 through the hole 4,

and then to insert or place the other end of the said spoke lug 2-in the opposite cut 4. The said spoke lug has a portion of one side out out to fit the circumferential shape of the spoke, as at '15. In the other end of the plates 1 is secured or formed integral therewith, the vise nut 5, internally-threaded to receive the threaded screw 6. On one end of said screw 6 is detachably fitted,-the clamping jaw 7, and on the otherend is firmly attached the handle 12, by which the said screw is turned within said vise nut 5. Integrally formed on sa d vise nut 5, is the 1 guide carriage 8, one end of which is extended and cut in the form of an arc of a circle corresponding to the peripheric face of the felly of the wheel. Said end of said guidecarriage 8 is secured in fixed relation to the free end of said plates 1 by the bracket braces 9. The guide carriage -8 has the top or face extended on each side a's flanges 10, and the said clamping jaw 7 has inwardly extended flanges 11 formed thereon to engage said flanges 10, thus forming a travel channel on said guide carriage 8 for said clamping jaw 7. Detachably secured on one side of said clamping jaw 7 is the felly lug 13, provided thereon to enter and engage within the respective mortises C. Said felly lug 13 is held in place by the thumb screw 14.

In the operation of my device the felly to be put on is driven partially in place on one spoke A, but the next spoke will not be in position to enter the mortise. The device is placed on the felly with the felly lug 13 in serted in the partially filled mortise C, and the spoke lug 2 is placed on the opposite side of the next spoke; then by turning the said handle 12 the whole device except the felly lug 13 and clamping jaw 7, is moved around on the wheel and'the free end of-the engaged spoke is drawn, until it registers with the adjacent mortise C, the workman then partially drives the felly into place at that point and fully drivesit into place atof the previously sprung spoke A, and in like manner until the telly is in position.

Having thus described my device I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim 1. A spoke clamp of the class described consisting of side plates; a vise nut secured thereto internally threaded; a threaded screw adapted to be turned in said nut; a

guide carriage integral with saidnut; a

clamping jaw slidable o'nsaid carriage; a felly lug secured on said jaw; and a spoke lug detachably fitted in said side plates.

2. A device of the class described consisted screw adapted to be turned in said nut.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES BLACKFORD.

Witnesses 1 JOHN FITTON', A. C. GANDLAND. 

